Dear John,

The bills passed during the 2022 legislative session, and signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, will effectively become law today, Friday July 1, 2022. As we know, during this year’s session, the Republican-led Florida Legislature staged an all out attack on many of our rights, targeting several of the people-centered policies that we hold at the heart of our movement and our work.

In an effort to keep our communities informed about these new policies and the ways that they might affect us, here is a breakdown of the most noteworthy changes to look out for:

HB 1557, the Don’t Say Gay Bill that bans schools from talking about gender identity and sexual orientation;
SB 1808, the Anti-immigrant Families bill, will force families apart by prohibiting transportation of immigrant children to Florida where they could reunite with their relatives and loved ones (this officially went into effect on June 17);
SB 524, the Ending Voter Freedoms Act that will confuse and intimidate voters by making it more complicated to vote, and commissioning a new police force just for elections (this officially went into effect on April 25);
SB 1764 increases grant funding for solid waste incinerators. It will pour even more money into dirty energy by paying for more incinerators such as the Covanta-owned one in Doral. These trash burners are polluting the air and destroying the neighborhoods in which we live.
HB 7 the “Stop WOKE Act” that censors educators from teaching the truth about race, sexual identity, or Black history and also allows employees to sue work places for sensitivity trainings if it makes them “feel discomfort”; and;
HB 5, a 15-week abortion ban modeled after the Mississippi law that served as catalyst to overturn Roe v. Wade. This abortion ban doesn’t allow exceptions for cases of rape, incest or human trafficking. There is a lawsuit challenging this bill because the Florida State Constitution protects the right to privacy. A judge has granted a temporary injunction of HB 5, so it will not go into effect until the state appeals.

These laws attack low-income communities, promote the white-washing of history and censorship of LGBTQ+ identity. Their passing and signing will have serious consequences for Floridians in the years to come. Which is why this November, it is our duty to show up to the polls and vote in state elections, to choose champions that will advance progress in Florida.

While we continue to face opposition from right-wing lawmakers, it is our priority to fight this opposition with the optimism and tenacity that fortifies our movement and brings us closer to the Florida we wish to see. We remain committed to our communities, their safety, and their needs.

Florida Rising will continue to fight these policies, at court and at the ballot box. By becoming a member, you affirm your desire to stay engaged in the fight. Remember to check floridarising.org regularly to stay engaged and informed on what’s happening in our communities or click here to receive text messages from a member of our team about upcoming legislative and advocacy opportunities.